Printing mechanism



1954 w. P. LOUDON 2,669,177

I PRINTING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR WARREN P. LOUDQN BY 44W HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1954 w LOUDON 2,669,177

PRINTING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG S 204R *4* 5 s, 1 9 u 3 6* s 4 a 10 X5 Pounos SHILLINGS PENOE JOHN DOE'S DISTRICT COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES LTD.

ASSISTANT'S TOTAL SALES RECORD REGISTER N0 RECORDED BY; DATE L 30N3d I ssumms I SONflOd 3 1 0| 2 v s 9 a? Cl Z n e l. 9 s v INVENTOR WARREN P. LOUOON BY W'- HlS ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1954 PRINTING MECHANISM Warren P. Loudon, Tucson, Ariz., assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Original application September 16, 1949, Serial Divided and this application March 22, 1951, Serial No. 216,919

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to total printing means of the class in which the total is printed on insertable record material, and particularly to a means for printing from a selected one of a plurality of groups of type carriers.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 116,004, filed September 16, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,628,774.

The invention is shown applied to a machine of the type disclosed in United States Patent No.

2,209,763, issued to Ernst Breitling on July 30, 1940, and in co-pending United States applications of Frank R. Werner, Serial No. 46,165, filed August 25, 1948; Serial No. 58,114, filed November 3, 1948; and Serial No. 102,658, filed July 1, 1949 (now Patent No. 2,587,019).

The object of the invention is to provide a novel total printing mechanism and means to select lines on which totals are printed on insertable record material.

A specific object of the invention is to provide means for printing from a plurality of interspersed sets of printing elements and means to shift the printing platens into printing relationship with a selected set of printing elements, together with means to select a line on the record material on which the printing records are made.

With these and incidentalobjects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the printing mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a part of the printing mechanism and the opening in the cabinet through which the record material is positioned for taking impressions thereon.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a part 'of the printing mechanism and the connection between a totalizer element and a type wheel. 5

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the flash operating mechanism for permitting the insertion of record material into printing position for total printing.

Fig. 6 is a facsimile illustrating the insertable record strip on which the totals are printed from the type wheels set by the totalizer elements.

General description In machines illustrated in the above-mentioned Breitling patent, data is entered into a totalizer in the well-known manner. In the machine illustrated in the parent case, four interspersed totalizers are provided to accumulate separate totals for individual clerks. Each set of totalizer elements has geared thereto a set of type wheels, which type wheels are also arranged in interspersed relationship.

The present invention relates to means for selecting the desired set of totalizers for total plrinting operations. To this end a printing hammer is provided with a plurality of platens, each platen wide enough to span one type wheel, and the number of platens are equal to the number of type wheels in each set of type wheels.

As illustrated herein the sets of interspersed type wheels are fixed in lateral relationship and the printing hammer is shiftable relatively to the type wheels to selectively aline the platens of the printing hammer with the desired set of type wheels.

In the system for which the machine is provided, all four totals are printed on a single insertable slip. In order that the respective totals may be printed on separate lines, the machine is provided with an adjustable means to determine the extent to which the insertable slip can be inserted into the receptacle therefor, for making the printed record thereon. The adjustable means is automatically set in accordance with the adjustment of the printing hammer for selecting a set of printing wheels for receiving an impression.

To avoid the necessity for too great an adjustment of the adjustable means, the insertable slip is arranged to be inserted into the machine either top side up, or top side down, so that the two totals can be printed along each edge thereof.

Detailed description As is well known, machines to which the present invention is shown applied, are provided with totalizer elements H9 (Fig. 4). The parent case illustrates four sets of interspersed totalizer elements. Amounts are added to the totalizer elements by well known differential mechanisms, such as illustrated in the Breitling patent, above mentioned. Each totalizer element H9, is connected to'a printing wheel 2043, by a gear I45, mounted on a shaft 46. The type wheels 2043 are rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 2044, carried. by frames 29 and 30 (Fig. l). The type wheels 2043 are held in spaced relationship on 3 the shaft 20 by spacing collars as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The entire machine is enclosed in a cabinet 34, a fragmentary part of which is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Total printing mechanism The mechanism for printing the totals on an insertable slip 204i, shown in Fig. 6, is located in the front of the machine adjacent the totalizer. The totalizer wheels H9 have coupled thereto a series of type wheels from which the total impressions are made manually without an operation or the machine. To obtain such a total printing, slot 2040 is provided in the cabinet 3-4, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, through which the slip is inserted. A total is printed from each of the four totalizers, designated A, B, D and E, and the insertable slip 20 (Fig. 6) is inserted into the slot 2040 for each total-printing operation. Means is provided to select the proper line on which the total is to be printed, and, as shown in Fig. 6, the total of the A totalizer is printed in the line indicated by the letter A near the right-hand edge of the insertable slip 2041. The total from totalizer B is printed below that of A, and, inasmuch as the totalizer is interspersed, the total printed from the B totalizer is slightly ofiset. To print from the totalizer D, the slip is withdrawn and reversed, and, when the slip is viewed upside down from the position shown in Fig. 6, the total standing on totalizer D will be at the top of the slip, and the total taken from totalizer E will be slightly offset therefrom and below the total D. The means for selecting the totalizer for printing the totals therefrom will be described presently.

When the insertable slip 204i is inserted through the slot 2040, the slip is positioned between a printing platen zesz and the type wheels 2043, The type wheels are carried on the shaft 20 and are engaged by the before mentioned gears I45, which are coupled to the totalizer elements so that, when an amount is entered into the totalizer, the corresponding amount will be at the printing line of the type wheel 204%3. Also, when the totalizer is reset to zero, the totalizer wheels 2043 will also be reset to zero.

A printing platen 2042 is provided for each set of type wheels 2043 of the same denomination, and the platens are selectively moved to come in alinement with the desired totalizer type wheels 2043; that is to say, with the A, B, D or E totalizer type wheels. To selectively shift the platens 20-42, they are mounted on a sliding plate 2039, ,1

having two slots 2055, each engaging a roller 2046. The rollers 2046 are mounted on a cross bar 204?, which joins two arms 2058, pivotally mounted on a shaft [21. A spring 2045 is connected at each end to studs on the cross car 2047, and the other ends are secured to the framework of the machine to maintain the hammer arms 204.8 and the platens 2042 in the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein a cross yoke 2050, connecting the two arms 2008, engages a set screw 205i. The set screw 2 05! provides a positive stop to limit the movement of the arms 2048 under the action of the springs :19.

In order to select a set of, to-talizer wheel type elements 2043', the slide 2039 is moved longitudinally as guided by the roller 2848. To facilitate the movement of the slide 2039, a knob 2052 is mounted thereon and projects upwardly in front of the machine cabinet so as to be accessible to the operator. As shown in Fig; l,

an extension 2053, of the cross bar 2041, projecting out of the cabinet of the machine, is

provided with four letters-A, B, D and E representing the four clerks totalizers. Shifting the slides longitudinally, so as to bring the knob 2052 opposite the letter representing the totalizer to be selected, positions the platens 2042 opposite the corresponding type wheels 20-43.

An aliner ball 2068 is held in engagement with a notch 2069 (Figs. 1 and 2) to maintain the slide 2038 in proper alinement. The ball 2068 is spring-urged into engagement with the notch by a spring 2010. The ball 2068 and the spring sins are located in an opening formed in the extension 2053, where they are held securely by a screw 207 I.

After the proper set of tc-talizer wheels 2043 have been selected, the operator strikes the projection 2053 with his hand, thus carrying the printer platens against the inserted slip to take an impression from the selected type wheels 2043 through the medium of an inking ribbon (not shown).

Shifting of the slide 2039 longitudinally to select the proper set of type wheels 2053 also positions a stop in the slip receptacle to properly aline the insertable slip 2%! so that the printlng will be effected on the line corresponding to the line marked with the letter A, B, D, or E which corresponds to the setting of the knob 2052. Fig. 3 shows the stop mechanism in detail and set for printing on the line A. When the stop is in the position shown, the ends 2055 of a pair of rods lie in the path of the insertable slip Eiidi and position the slip for printing on line A. The rods 2056 are slidably mounted, and suitable openings are provided in the cross bar 2643 of the hammer. Secured to the outer end of each rod 2058 is a cylindrical member 2057, which is threaded at its bottom to be secured to the rod 2056. The upper end of the cylindrical member 2051 projects through a cam slot 2058 in the slide 2039.

When the B set of totalizer type wheels is selected and the slide 2039 is moved longitudinally leftwardly into the B position, the cam slot 20.55, acting on the cylindrical member 2057, withdraws the end 2055 from the path of the insertable slip 2051, thus permitting the insertable slip to drop into contact with a shelf 2050. The shelf 2059, being lower than the ends 2055 of the rods 2055, permits the slip to drop far enough to make the impression on the line B or the insertable slip 2041- (Fig. 6) 7 When the total is printed from the totalizer D, enter the slide 2039 has been shifted to bring the knob 2&5? opposite the letter D, the cam slot 2%58 will againhave. permitted the ends 2055 to move inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, when the insertable slip 2%! is inverted and again dropped into the slot 2M0, the line D of the insertable slip 204i is at. the printing line.

Further shifting of the slide 2044 leftwardly (Fig. 1) causes the cam slot 20.53. to again withdraw the ends 2055 from the path of the insertable slip 204i, thus permitting the inserted slip 200! to drop low enough to bring the line D of the insertable slip 294.! to the printing line.

Normally a shutter 23% (Fig. 5) lies beneath the slot 29% to preventthe insertion of an insertable slip into the machine to prevent unauthorized persons from taking total printings from the totalizers. Before an insertable slip can be dropped into the slot 2040, the shutter 2060 must be moved out of the path of the slip. To accomplish this result, the shutter 2999 is formed on a yoke Zflfil rotatably mounted on the before mentioned shaft 2944. Secured to the yoke 2951, through the medium of two studs 2062, is a lever 2093. The lever 2963 has secured thereto one end of a link 2064, the other end of which is provided with a stud 3M. The link 2994 is guided in its up-and-down movement by a stud 2065 carried by a plate 2956, said stud projecting through a slot 296'! of the link 2994.

When a unit control lock key, fully described in the parent case, is moved to the reset position in the manner there described, and a shaft see is rocked, and thereby a hook (H3 is disengaged from the stud 3M, and the lever 2993 is freed to be rocked clockwise. Clockwise movement of the lever 2993 carries with it the shutter 2999, thus removing it from beneath the slot 2949 and permitting the insertion of the slip into the machine for receiving the impression in the manner just described.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of interspersed sets of printing elements, a printing hammer com prising a manually operable, rockable frame and a plurality of platens arranged to take an impression from one of said sets of printing elements during each printing operation, means to shift the printing platens in the frame to aline the printing platens with a set of printing elements selected for a printing operation, an insertable record material receptacle to receive insertable record material between the platens and the printing elements, and a plurality of selectable stops in the receptacle selected by the means to shift the platens to arrest the insertable record material in the receptacle to aline selected areas of the record material with the printing elements.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of interspersed sets of printing elements, a printing hammer comprising a manually operable, rockable frame and a plurality of platens arranged to take an impression from one of said sets of printing elements during each printing operation, means to shift the printing platens in the frame to aline the printing platens with a set of printing elements selected for a printing operation, an insertable record material receptacle to receive insertable record material between the platens and the printing elements, a plurality of selectable stops in the receptacle selected by the means to shift the platens to arrest the insertable record material in the receptacle to aline selected areas of the record material with the printing elements, and connections between one of said stops and said means to shift the printing platens to withdraw the said one of said stops from the path of the insertable record material to obtain a printed record on an area corresponding to the selected set of printing elements.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of interspersed sets of printing elements; a printing hammer; a plurality of platens on said hammer and arranged to take an impression from one of said sets of printing elements during each printing operation; means to shift the printing hammer to aline the printing platens with a set of printing elements selected for a printing operation; an insertable record material receptacle to receive insertable record material between the platens and the printing elements; a plurality of selectable stops in the receptacle to arrest the insertable record material in the receptacle to aline selected areas of the record material with the printing elements, one of said stops being movable and another one of said stops being in fixed relation with the printing elements, said movable stop alining the record material to receive printed records in one area and said fixed stop .alining the record material to receive records in another area; and connections between the means to shift the printing hammer and the movable stop whereby the movable stop is withdrawn from the path of the record material when a certain set of printing elements are selected for a printing operation.

WARREN P. LOUDON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 880,034 McNair Feb. 25, 1908 1,761,542 Shipley June 3, 1930 1,878,125 Fuller Sept. 20, 1932 1,957,167 Hoffman May 1, 1934 2,101,444 Miles Dec. 7, 1937 2,117,451 Robertson May 17, 1938 2,165,439 Arnold July 11, 1939 2,229,731 Fort Jan. 28, 1941 2,250,534 Higgins July 29, 1941 2,279,288 Orbeck Apr. 7, 1942 2,412,777 Kao Dec. 17, 1946 2,473,509 Demeulenaere June 21, 1949 

